Vehicle-axle.



A. W. RUSSEL.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULYI3.19I7-. 1,272,858. Patented July 16, 1918.

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nLBEnrw. RUSSEL, or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN, assrenon TO RUSSEL MOTOR AXLECOMPANY, or DETROIT,- MICHIGAN, 'A CORPORATION or .MICI-IIGAN.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

Application filedJuIy 13, 1917. Serial no; 18 ,269.

To all whom may 1106 i I p Be it known that I, ARTHUR, W; RUSSEL acitizen of the United States of America,'re-

' siding at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Axlcs, ofwhich the following is aspecification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to vehicle axles of that type in which the wheelsare provided with internal ring-gears in mesh with pinions on a drivingcrankshaft. It is the object of the present invention to provide ahousing for the ring-gear and pinion which is easily applied and whichwill form a substantially oil-tight joint.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the gear housing for my axle;

Fig.2 is a transverse section therethrough.

A is the wheel hub, B is the ring-gear secured to the flange C of saidhub, D is the pinion in mesh with said ring-gear and mounted upon thejack-shaft E, and F is a stationary circular head on the inner side ofsaid ring-gear and pinion and through which the jack-shaft is passed.

In housing the gear, it is diflicult to provide a joint between therevolving and non revolving parts which will prevent the leakage of oilor lubricant. I have therefore devised a construction which willsuccessfully accomplish this purpose and also one which permits ofeasily engaging and removing the housing. As shown, G is a cylindricalperipheral portion of the stationary head F, H is the housing having aportion forming a pressed engagement with the portion G, which latter,if desired, may be grooved at I to receive packing for rendering thejoint oil proof. The casing H is provided with an integralinwardly-extending flange J arranged between the ring-gear and thespokes K of the wheel and extending in proximity to the peripheralportion of the flange C. Inasmuch as the flange C is rotating and thehousing J is stationary, it is difficult or impossible to form the jointdirectly therebetween which will prevent the oil from running out. Thisis for the reason that the oil will be thrown out centrifugally from therotating parts upon the inner face of the housing H and will then draindownward from the portion of this housing along the flange J until itreaches the joint through which it is likely to leak. I have avoidedsuch a defect by forming the flange J with a reverse ly-bentinwardlyextending flange Ii, leaving between the same and the outerportion an annular groove'M. This will cause the oil draining down theflange J to flowaround the groove M to the lower side of the housingwhere it will then drop off of the flange L.

To further assist in retaining the oil from leakage through the jointthe rotating memher is provided with a flange N at one side of theflange L and preferably of slightly greater depth. This flange N servesto throw oil the oil lodging thereon by centrifl ugal action and also todirect any oil in the joint between said flange and the flange I. intothe interior of the housing, for the reason that the joint between theflanges is in the plane of rotation. Consequently even where there is aconsiderable crevice between the flanges through which oil might easilyflow, such an effect is prevented, for all of the oil flowing down theinner face of the casing will be deflected by the flange N through thegroove M, while any oil dropping upon the joint between the flanges Mand N will be thrown centrifugally to the interior of the case.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an axle, the combination with the wheel and ring-gear carriedthereby, of a housing having a stationary head on the inner side of saidgear provided with a pcripheral cylindrical portion and a detachablehousing section having a cylindrical portion forming a press fit on saidcylindrical peripheral portion and provided with an inwardly-extendingflange on the outer side of said ring-gear, said inwardly-extendingflange provided with means for directing the drainage of the lubricant.

2. In an axle, the combination with the wheel and ring-gear mountedthereon, of a housing on the inner side of said ring-gear havingacylindrical peripheral portion with a groove therein, a detachablehousing section having a cylindrical portion for press ing upon thefirst-mentioned cylindrical portion and provided with aninwardly-extending flange on the outer side of the ringgear.

3. In an axle, the combination with the wheel and ring-gear carriedthereby, of a by, housing-fer 'sai inwardly-extend Wheeland ring-gearmounted the1'eon,='of-*-a housing for inclosing said ring-gear having aninwardly-extending flange'u itlfa'feturn bent portion at its inner endand on the inner obtained for fiv 'Copis's of this atent may be e centseach, by addressin the Q0mmission'er q Pat n s} rctui'nbent portion, anda flange on the rotating part adjacent to said i'etm'nbent flange,- saidadjacent flanges proiiding .6. In an axle, the combination with a wheel'and" a ring-gear carried thiiebj fqfj' a housing for said? ring gearhaving an inii ai dly eiifiendii'ig 'flange, and cooperating members onsaid housing and on the rota} ing heel lying" at nt'to'eablnothei' inthe plafi'e'oii "atio'n' n fespec'tiifely "sepa- 'f t'e liff n a th 60fI aifix my signature.

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